By eliminating the need for crawl spaces and saving on heating costs by sealing the ground to prevent moisture build-up, this foundation solution provides greater savings in heating expenses and lower heating bills overall.
Assuming you need plumbing repairs done on a slab foundation, access may be more challenging and breaking into it more costly than fixing crawl spaces or basement foundations.
Cost
Slab foundations tend to be less costly than basements or crawl spaces, although costs vary based on factors like location and thickness desired for the slab. Furthermore, excavation costs are reduced as excavation of an underground space does not need to take place as often.
Concrete slab foundations typically measure at least 4 inches thick in the center and 6 inches at their edges, and are often utilized for garages, workshops and driveways.
If you choose a concrete slab foundation, builders typically install all internal plumbing before pouring the final layer of concrete – this saves them from having to jackhammer later!
At this stage, the ductwork for furnaces and air conditioning will also be installed, however this makes repairing leaks much harder as leaks will be embedded within concrete structures that make entry impossible unless you know exactly where they are located. Concrete slabs Melbourne foundations can be an ideal choice for homes in areas with mild winters.
Durability
Slab foundations can be highly resilient when built on solid ground that drains well, as well as helping you reduce energy costs by eliminating the need to heat or cool air beneath your home.
Slab-on-grade foundations may be especially vulnerable to plumbing leaks than other types of foundations, allowing leaks to go undetected for long periods and leading to foundation heave or settlement, in which case repair may require using both piers and slabjacking techniques to remedy.
This type of foundation typically measures 4 or 6 inches thick, with a 2-inch layer of gravel added between it and the concrete for strength and soil stabilization. Rebar reinforcement ensures strength as it keeps soil movement at bay; then concrete is floated smooth after floating and smoothing is complete.
Accessibility
Though slab foundations may seem simple enough, repairs may still prove challenging given that plumbing runs beneath the concrete surface and any repairs typically involve breaking through it to access pipes buried underground. Therefore, they should be avoided for homes requiring extensive plumbing works or extensive remodeling projects.
A slab foundation’s lack of space for ductwork and electrical panels makes accessing them for inspection or repairs more challenging, making a decision to purchase more difficult. But with its lower profile and closeness to the ground, slab foundations offer several advantages when buying new homes; especially those with limited mobility who may find them easier than stairs for accessing their new home. Slab foundations may also work better with clay soil than other foundation types.
Mold and termite resistance
Slab foundations are vulnerable to moisture issues that may lead to mold, rot, and insect infestation. While such issues are usually rare in older homes or rocky terrain areas, their repairs may prove expensive.
Slab foundations don’t allow space for utilities such as ductwork or the electrical panel, meaning utilities must be placed inside walls. This increases costs and length of construction time while in cold climates they can become vulnerable to damages from freezing temperatures.
Builders usually rely on concrete mixes containing reinforcement materials like rebar or welded steel wire mesh when creating slab foundations, such as reinforcing with steel rebar or mesh reinforcement to increase tensile strength and avoid cracking. Unfortunately, rebar can rust over time, becoming difficult or impossible to remove in the future; for optimal performance when using this form of reinforcement a higher percentage of stainless steel should be included.
Cracking
As resilient as they may be, slab foundations still can crack in cold climates – this can pose problems when installing heating and cooling units on top. Furthermore, pipes often embedded within foundations to save space can result in leakage when being replaced – both scenarios leading to issues when heating/cooling units need to be installed there.
Cracked concrete surfaces result from volume changes due to drying shrinkage and temperature contraction, and while these cracks don’t compromise structural integrity they may allow water, oxygen and minerals into the concrete causing corrosion of reinforcement steel and reduced durability. If left untreated these cracks could widen to cover its entire depth.
